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Background Asthma is a common respiratory disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation. As a novel inflammatory mediator, follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL1) can activate immune reaction, suggesting that it may contribute to inflammatory disorders such as asthma. Besides, there are growing evidences that nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat protein 3 (NLRP3) / Interleukin (IL)-1β axis participates in asthma. In this study, we investigated the role of FSTL1 in allergic airway inflammation and its underlying mechanism of activating NLRP3 inflammasome. Methods Circulating FSTL1 and IL-1β levels were quantified in serum of asthmatic patients and controls. Whole-body ablation Fstl1 heterozygous mice (Fstl1 +/- ) and control group were assessed after the experimental treatment. The effects of FSTL1 on NLRP3 inflammasome were also tested in primary macrophages of mice in vitro. Results The concentration of FSTL1 and IL-1β in serum of asthmatic patients were elevated compared with controls and were positively correlated. FSTL1 deficiency ameliorated infiltration of inflammatory cells,corresponding pathological changes,cytokine responses (IL-1β, IL-5,IL-13), mucous hypersecretion and hyper-responsiveness of airway after Ovalbumin (OVA) exposure in the mouse model. Additionally, inhibition of NLRP3 with MCC950 attenuated FSTL1-induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and airway inflammation in vivo and vitro. Conclusions Our data showed that FSTL1 played an important role in allergic airway inflammation by activating NLRP3 inflammasome, providing the possibility that FSTL1 could be applied as a therapeutic strategy on asthma.

Magnesium (Mg)-based biometal attracts clinical applications due to its biodegradability and beneficial biological effects on tissue regeneration, especially in orthopaedics, yet the underlying anabolic mechanisms in relevant clinical disorders are lacking. The present study investigated the effect of magnesium (Mg) and vitamin C (VC) supplementation for preventing steroid-associated osteonecrosis (SAON) in a rat experimental model. In SAON rats, 50 mg/kg Mg, or 100 mg/kg VC, or combination, or water control was orally supplemented daily for 2 or 6 weeks respectively. Osteonecrosis was evaluated by histology. Serum Mg, VC, and bone turnover markers were measured. Microfil-perfused samples prepared for angiography and trabecular architecture were evaluated by micro-CT. Primary bone marrow cells were isolated from each group to evaluate their potentials in osteoblastogenesis and osteoclastogenesis. The mechanisms were tested in vitro. Histological evaluation showed SAON lesions in steroid treated groups. Mg and VC supplementation synergistically reduced the apoptosis of osteocytes and osteoclast number, and increased osteoblast surface. VC supplementation significantly increased the bone formation marker PINP, and the combination significantly decreased the bone resorption marker CTX. TNFα expression and oxidative injury were decreased in bone marrow in Mg/VC/combination group. Mg significantly increased the blood perfusion in proximal tibia and decreased the leakage particles in distal tibia 2 weeks after SAON induction. VC significantly elevated the osteoblast differentiation potential of marrow cells and improved the trabecular architecture. The combination supplementation significantly inhibited osteoclast differentiation potential of marrow cells. In vitro study showed promoting osteoblast differentiation effect of VC, and anti-inflammation and promoting angiogenesis effect of Mg with underlying mechanisms. Mg and VC supplementation could synergistically alleviate SAON in rats, indicating great translational potentials of metallic minerals for preventing SAON.

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the umbilical arterial 8-iso-prostaglandin F 2α, concentrations between pregnancies that were complicated by moderate or thick meconium-stained liquor and those with clear liquor. Study design Umbilical cord arterial blood samples were collected from 247 singleton pregnancies with either moderate or thick meconium-stained liquor at any stage of labor or clear liquor at all stages of labor for the determination of the total 8-iso-prostaglandins F 2α concentration. Results The median total 8-iso-prostaglandins F 2α concentration of the meconium-stained liquor group was significantly higher than that of the control group (719.2 vs 115.8 pg/mL). Among the meconium-stained liquor group, those who had a change from "clear liquor" at early labor to "moderate/ thick meconium-stained liquor" at late first stage or at delivery (late meconium-stained liquor group) had higher 8-iso-prostaglandins F 2α concentration, compared with those who had moderate/ thick meconium-stained liquor since early labor (early meconium-stained liquor group; 959.8 vs 499.9 pg/mL). With the use of multiple regression analysis, meconium-stained liquor, duration of second stage of labor, and abnormal fetal heart tracings were independent determinants of cord blood 8-iso-prostaglandins F 2α concentration. Conclusion Moderate or thick meconium-stained liquor is an independent factor for increased oxidative stress in pregnancy.

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is the result of dysfunctional blood supply, but associations between specific damaged arteries, imaging changes and clinical sign require more understanding. We investigated characteristics of ONFH that pertain to blood supply, imaging appearance, and clinical feature to judge the prognosis of ONFH.Clinical data were collected for 92 patients (118 hips) with ONFH, including gender, age, duration of pain (from initial clinical presentation to arthroplasty), cause, stage, and classification. Magmatic resonance imaging and X-rays were obtained of all patients to diagnose ONFH. The sizes of lesions were classified by necrotic index. The location of necrosis was classified as Type A, B, or C using the grading system by magmatic resonance imaging and X-rays. All hips were imaged with digital subtraction angiography to visualize their blood-supply characteristics. Hips were divided into groups based on the source artery for femoral head damage: superior retinacular artery (S), inferior retinacular artery (I), and combined superior and inferior retinacular arteries (S+I). Via digital subtraction angiography, imaging appearances and clinical data in three groups were compared.ONFH was caused by damage in either the superior or inferior retinacular artery, or both, in all of 118 hips. The group with only inferior retinacular artery damage reported longer hip pain duration than the other groups. The probability of the lesion extending laterally to the acetabular edge in group S was much more than it in group I. Necrosis indices of the patients in S and S+I were higher than those in group I.ONFH associated with interruption of the superior and inferior retinacular arteries in this study. When the former alone was damaged, the necrosis of the volume was larger, the risk of femoral head collapse was higher and the time from initial clinical presentation to arthroplasty was shorter.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of 2 surgical approaches for femoral neck fractures in young adults: internal fixation with or without a vascularized iliac graft. Between January 1998 and December 2008, seventy-eight patients presented with a Garden type III (n=38) or IV (n=40) femoral neck fracture. Thirty-eight patients were women and 40 were men, with an average age of 28 years (range, 16–38 years). Fractures were caused by fall injury (n=24), motor vehicle accident (n=36), and heavy weight lifting (n=18). Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group A underwent internal fixation with 2 cannulated compression screws combined with an iliac graft supported by the ascending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery (n=44), and group B underwent internal fixation with 3 cannulated compression screws (n=34). Average follow-up was 4.5 years (range, 2–8 years), and mean Harris Hip Score was 92 (range, 62–100) in group A and 84 (range, 40–100) in group B. Average fracture healing time at final follow-up was 4.4 months in group A and 6 months in group B. Two (4.5%) cases of osteonecrosis of the femoral head occurred in group A, and 8 (23.5%) cases occurred in group B. Internal fixation with 2 cannulated compression screws combined with an iliac graft supported by the ascending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery is an effective surgical approach for treating femoral neck fractures in young adults to minimize the occurrence of fracture nonunion and osteonecrosis of the femoral head and to facilitate bone healing and functional recovery of the hip.

Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleural layers that surround the lungs. Despite much research into inflammatory diseases, no drugs with favorable safety profiles are available yet for their treatment. Corn silk has been used in many parts of the world for the treatment of edema, cystitis, gout, kidney stones nephritis, and prostitutes. However, no scientific reports on the anti-inflammatory effects of corn silk were so far available. To test the anti-inflammatory efficacy of corn silk extract (CSEX) in a rat model of carrageenin (Cg)-induced pleurisy, exudate formation, and cellular infiltration, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), vascular endothelial growth factor alpha (VEGF-α), interleukin-17 (IL-17), C3 and C4 complement protein levels, adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation, and total antioxidant activity were studied, respectively. Pretreatment with CSEX reduced Cg-induced pleurisy exudate, number of leukocytes, oxidative stress, C3 protein level, and O (2)(-) levels at the inflammatory site. Pretreatment with CSEX also inhibited TNF-α, IL-1β, VEGF-α, and IL-17A and blocked inflammation-related events (ICAM-1 and iNOS) by activation of NF-κB. Supplementation with CSEX may be a promising treatment for inflammatory diseases that involve oxidative stress.

In this study, copper, zinc, magnesium, manganese, selenium, and iron of urine and hair were measured in the patients with tuberculous (TB) pleurisy (n = 24) and in the control group (n = 20). Selenium, magnesium, and zinc of hair were found to be significantly lower in TB pleurisy cases than those in the control group (p 0.05, p 0.001, and p 0.01, respectively). On the contrary, selenium and magnesium of urine were found to be significantly elevated in TB pleurisy cases than those in the control group (p 0.05 and p 0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference in the value of manganese and iron between TB pleurisy and the control group (p 0.05). Copper level were significantly increased in hair and decreased in urine of the patients (p 0.01). The occurrence of these abnormalities constitutes new information regarding trace elements in TB pleurisy patients. These results may provide an additional disease correlate for assessing TB pleurisy risk.

To understand the biological characteristics and osteogenic potential of hVEGF-165 gene modified marrow stromal stem cells and investigate the effect and value of treatment for osteonecrosis of femoral head by hVEGF-165 gene modified marrow stromal stem cells under arthroscope.rAAV-2-hVEGF-165 plasmids were extracted and transfected into rabbit marrow stromal stem cells. hVEGF-165 mediated by adeno-associated virus (AAV) was used to transfect rMSCs. The transfection efficiency was detected with enhanced green fluorescent protein under fluorescence microscope. hVEGF-165 mediated by adeno-associated virus (AAV) was used to transfect rMSCs. Virus transfection stayed overnight after 90% cell converged. MOI was 105. The transcription and expression of hVEGF-165 protein expression were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. The necrotic bone was emptied and then MSCs were implanted under arthroscope. The histology of femoral head was inspected at postoperative 2 - 8 weeks.The expression of hVEGF-165 gene could be found distinctly in the transfected rabbit MSCs and hVEGF-165 protein in the supernatants of transfected cell cultures. The transfection efficiency of adeno-associated virus (AAV) transfected rMSCs was 70%. And rAAV-2-hVEGF-165 transfected rMSCs achieved an effective expression by RT-PCR and Western blot. hVEGF-165 could be found after a 48-hour transfection and peaked at Day 10. Immunohistochemical detection showed that the implanted rMSCs was positive at Week 2 and strong positive at Week 8. The compressive strength of the hVEGF-165 gene group approached that of normal control.hVEGF-165 gene transfected rabbit MSCs can express hVEGF-165 with highly biological activity. It provides provided a basis for employing hVEGF-165 gene and MSCs based gene therapy for ONFH repairing and regeneration. rAAV-2-hVEGF-165/MSCs may be implanted accurately under arthroscope. Implantation of human BMP-2 gene transfected BMSCs can repair early-stage experimental femoral head necrosis.